We are only free to love our neighbor when we are free from being self absorbed.

Sunday, 6/26/16

In the passage from his Letter to he Galatians Paul makes two
statements:

1. 1. “Christ has set us free, so we must not
submit to the yoke of slavery.”

2. 2. “The whole law is summed up in this: You
shall; love your neighbor as yourself.”

Let’s take them one at a time. First, Christ has set us
free, and we must not submit to slavery. In our time the most common type of
slavery is that of addictions. When you really just “got to have” a drug, a
smoke, or a drink you are a slave to that habit. We are free when no ties to
selfish desires holds us back from enjoying the beauty of the world and the people
around you.

Secondly, you might question Paul’s saying that love of neighbor
sums up all the Law. You might object that
the law forbids fornication and self abuse, but those things do not detract
from our loving our neighbor. However, they definitely do, because your
capacity for loving your neighbor diminishes in direct proportion to your self-absorption.